§ 94. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what progress has been made with the Okovango scheme affecting Bechuana-land.
§ Mr. Gordon-WalkerMy hon. Friend is no doubt referring to suggestions that have been put forward from time to time for developing a large area in the northern part of the Bechuanaland Protectorate by controlled use of the waters of the Okovango River, which at present run to waste in a swampy region covering about 5,000 square miles. In June last year I authorised a grant of £28,000 to the Bechuanaland Protectorate Government from Colonial Development and Welfare funds to finance a preliminary survey of the Okovango area, including an investigation into the practicability and cost of certain major schemes which have been put forward. This work is now in progress and will last until at least 1953. When it is completed we shall be in a better position to judge to what extent large-scale development in the area is practicable.